2004 Chrysler Pacifica Suspension Problems

THE UNDER CARRIAGE THAT HOLDS ENGINE IN PLACE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES FROM BELLE TIRE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2020. BY NOVEMBER 1 2020 I WAS OBSERVING EXTREME WEAR ON THE BRAND NEW TIRES. WENT TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE CRADLE RUST ROT, AND THE ENGINE IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OUT AND WOULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC EMERGENCY I AND MY FAMILY COULD DIE. TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT AND AM BEING TOLD IT IS SUCH A PROBLEM THAT THERE IS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11373618

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

11,800 mi

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE. SHOP WOULD NOT WORK ON VEHICLE STATING THE DETERIORATION OF THE SUBFRAME WAS TO EXTENSIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THE FRAME IN A GREAT STATE OF DECAY, WITH SOME PLACES ONLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH THIN STRIPS OF METAL. THESE VEHICLES WERE RECALLED IN THE PAST FOR DEFECTIVE FRAMES HOWEVER NOT ALL WERE RECALLED AND THIS IS ONE VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT. THE MOTOR IN THESE VEHICLES WILL FALL OUT AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. THESE FRAMES ARE DEFECTIVE IN WORKMANSHIP FROM THE FACTORY AND SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE FACTORY ACROSS ALL 2004-2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA'S AFFECTED BY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT KNOWINGLY INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY THAT WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD TODAY WITH OCCUPANTS UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WHICH ARE "TICKING TIME BOMBS". *TR

NHTSA ID

11329184

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

167,000 mi

THE FRONT CHASSIS CROSS MEMBER HAS ROTTED OUT. MY 2004 PACIFICA HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER 5 YEARS BECAUSE THE CORROSION IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT. THE ROTTED FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS POINTED OUT TO ME DURING A STATE INSPECTION IN JUNE OF 2012

NHTSA ID

11124438

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

K-FRAME IS ROTTED OUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT

NHTSA ID

11118605

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

129,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. WHILE CHECKING FOR THE SWAY BAR LINK UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDE PANEL FRAME WAS CORRODED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH CHICAGO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (7400 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60636), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 33832631 BEFORE REFERRING THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11084637

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

WE OWN A 2004 CHRYSLER PACIFICA WITH AROUND 117K MILES ON IT. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES IT. WHILE CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL ON IT LAST WEEKEND, I NOTICED SEVERE CORROSION (PERFORATION ACTUALLY) OF THE VEHICLE ENGINE CRADLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CROSS MEMBER IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS ABOUT 70% RUSTED THROUGH. AS THIS CROSS MEMBER IS WHAT HOLDS THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE AND ACTS AS THE BASE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. SHOULD THIS STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FAIL DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME UNSTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH WOULD BE A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. YES, WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN (PART OF THE SALT BELT), BUT THIS AMOUNT OF CORROSION ON SUCH A CRUCIAL STRUCTURAL COMPONENT IS CRAZY! THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 14 YRS AND FOR ONLY 117K MI. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE BODY STARTED TO DETERIORATE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT NOT A SUPPORTING FRAME MEMBER. I DON'T BELIEVE THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS PROPERLY TREATED AGAINST CORROSION, OR THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE MADE IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXCESSIVE LOCALIZED CORROSION AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11078247

Incident

Mar 4, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

SUB FRAME ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED TO THE POINT THE MECHANIC ADVISED IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. JAPANESE METAL COATING ISSUE OR CHRYSLER RECALL NEEDED? I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THINKING I HAVE A CV SHAFT GOING OUT AS IT MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDE ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND THE FRAME IS TWISTING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST MORE THAN THE WORTH OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE BRAND NEW AND TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. EVEN THE BODY IS RUSTING BADLY. CHECK OUT THE ATTACHED NEWS INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.WFSB.COM/STORY/26363027/PROBLEM-PACIFICAS-A-DANGER-DESPITE-LACK-OF-RECALL

NHTSA ID

11065675

Incident

Jan 29, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

BOUGHT MY 2004 PACIFICA FROM A DEALERSHIP USED ON JUNE 5 2017 AT THAT TIME I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. NOTHING SAID ABOUT THE CRADLE ALMOST RUSTED OFF ON RIGHT SIDE. TOOK PACIFICA TO GET TIRES CAUSE I PLANNED A 1500 MILE TRIP IN A FEW DAYS AND WANTED GOOD TIRES. NEEDLESS TO SAY BESIDES $400 IN TIRES I HAD TO PUT $1800 INTO PARTS AND LABOR FOR STRUTS, TIE RODS, ARMS, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND VALVE STEMS. WAS SHOWN THE RUSTED CRADLE THAT WAS 3/4 RUSTED THROUGH AND TOLD IT SHOULD GET CHANGED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO TAKE ON MY TRIP. WHILE DRIVING WHEN GOING 25-35MPH WITH MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IT CHUGS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING GAS AND HAVE ALSO NOTICED IT NOW WHEN GOING 55 AND TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL IT DOING THE SAME THING. THERE'S BEEN 4 OR SO TIMES THE FUEL INDICATOR HAS GONE DOWN TO EMPTY AND BACK UP AGAIN ONCE WHILE IDLING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND ALMOST DIED TWICE. NEEDLESS TO SAY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN OIL CHANGE OCTOBER 3, THEY CHANGED OIL AND DID AN INSPECTION- MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE AND NEED TO TALK TO THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE. RIGHT SIDE OF CRADLE TOTALLY RUSTED OFF. SO WHY DID THEY EVEN SELL THE CAR WHEN THEY KNEW IT WAS UNSAFE OR EVEN SELL ME PART BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE? DEALERSHIPS AND TIRE DEALERSHIPS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OLDER PEOPLE AND WOMEN! I WILL BE GOING INTO BOTH THESE PLACES AND NEEDLESS TO SAY STILL PAYING ON THE REPAIR WITH THEIR CREDIT CARD. I CANNOT DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND PUT A FEW MORE THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO IT. I ALSO HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN CAUSE NOT EVEN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING IT IT WOULDN'T START AND NEEDED AN INTERSTATE BATTERY! I CANNOT BELIEVE CHRYSLER IS BEING SO NEGLIGENT ABOUT PUTTING A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. I'VE ONLY OWNED CHRYSLER, DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES THE 44YEARS I BEEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11033172

Incident

Oct 3, 2017

LOWER SUBFRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) RUST-THROUGH SEPARATION. SUBJECT OF SERVICE BULLETINS, I'M TOLD, BUT NO RECALL? WIFE HEARD LOUD POP WHEN BACKING UP, THEN CAR HANDLING BECAME PROBLEMATIC. MECHANIC RAISED CAR AND POINTED OUT RUST-THROUGH OF SUBFRAME.

NHTSA ID

11016039

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

130,400 mi

ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT THE ENGINE DROPPED. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON I94WEST OUT OF MILWAUKEE WHEN SHE HEARD A CLUNK. SHE WAS ABLE TO DIVE TO OUR RESTAURANT AND PARK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC AND THAT IS WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT IT ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT.

NHTSA ID

11010830

Incident

Jul 9, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING WHILE MAGEING TURNS. IT IS SO LOUD YOU THINK SOMETHING FELL OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPING FOR AT LEAST 4 YEARS I ALWAYS TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAY THEY CAINT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT I KNOW IT IS THE SHOP KEEP COMPUTER RECORDS SO I KNOW THEY WILL HAVE THE TIMES I KEPT RETURING WITH THIS PROBLEM IT NEVER DO IT WHEN I TAKE IT SO THEY SAY THEY CAINT DIGONOSE MY PROBLEM. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL MAKE THAT LOUD POPPING SOUND BUT WHEN IT DOSE IT YOU WILL BE STARTELD YOU BECAUSE YOU THINK YOUR WHEEL IS OFF. IT ALSO WILL NOT START OCCASIONALY YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN I REPLACE MY BATTERY EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT WILL KILL YOUR BATTERY ALL THE TIME .I HAVE REPLACED MY GAS PUMPS THEY WENT OUT 5 YEARS AGO

NHTSA ID

11002610

Incident

Jun 30, 2017

Mileage

900,000 mi

EXTENSIVE CORROSION/RUST ON SUB FRAME PLATE HOLDING UP THE ENGINE. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING BECAUSE IT COULD SNAP AND BREAK AT ANY MOMENT.

NHTSA ID

10953985

Incident

Feb 8, 2017

I WAS SHOCKED THE MECHANIC AT JIFFY LUBE SHOWED ME PICTURES OF MY PACIFICA AFTER CHANGING ENGINE OIL. THE CRADLE TO SUPPORT THE ENGINE ARE TOTALLY RUSTED AND I CAN NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. I WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HAPPENS. I FEEL RELIVED I DID NOT GET KILLED WHEN I DIVE TO MINNESOTA TO SEE MY DAUGHTER OFTEN.

NHTSA ID

10891737

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED TO THE POINT IT WILL NOT PASS WV INSPECTION AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10876713

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

184,000 mi

WE TOOK OUR 2004 PACIFICA IN FOR ALIGNMENT AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN PLACES AND THE MOTOR WAS BARELY BEING HELD IN PLACE. BASICALLY I WAS DRIVING A VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE DID PAY OVER 3000.00 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE REPLACED SINCE WE NEEDED THE VEHICLE TO GET AROUND. I HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK FROM THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10870824

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

WON'T LET ME PUMP GAS IN WITH OUT IT CONSTANTLY CLICKING OFF, WHEN GAS GAGE HITS HALF IT DROPS WITH IN SECONDS. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ENGINE LIGHT LOW AND HIGH TIRE PRESSURE STAYS ON BUT NOTHING SHOWS ON TESTER. FRONT END DOES A LOT OF POPPING, AND CLANKING WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHILE TURNING AND STOPPING.

NHTSA ID

10870355

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT!! THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED!! ITS PRETTY BAD WHEN THE FRAME AND ROCKERS RUST OUT AND THE FACTORY EXHAUST IS STILL ON THE CAR!

NHTSA ID

10854516

Incident

Jan 12, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

FRAME IS RUSTING UNDER THE ENGINE AND SERVICE BAY AT TIRE DEALER SAID IT WAS UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

10809871

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE ROT, UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE DROPPING OUT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10790174

Incident

Nov 12, 2015

Mileage

127,000 mi

THE FRONT SUBFRAME KNOWN AS THE "ENGINE CRADLE" IS SEVERELY RUSTING OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY CHRYSLER ON 2004-2005 PACIFICAS. THERE WAS AN INADEQUATE COATING OF THE METAL WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE RUSTING. IN 2010 CHRYSLER ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS, BUT ONLY FOR CARS BUILT IN A SIX WEEK PERIOD IN 2004. THIS ONLY COVERED A SMALL FRACTION ON THE CARS AFFECTED. CHRYSLER NEVER SENT INFORMATION TO OWNERS WARNING OF THIS OR OFFERING SUGGESTIONS ON MAINTENANCE OF THIS ISSUE. AS A RESULT, THOUSANDS OF PACIFICA OWNERS LIKE MYSELF ARE LEFT WITH CARS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND UNABLE TO SELL BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE. THE RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER (FAC) WHEN YOU CONTACT THEM IS "SORRY, IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY".

NHTSA ID

10789224

Incident

Nov 7, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED I CALLED CHRYSLER THEY SAID TOO BAD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS CAR WILL NOT PASS PA. INSPECTION WITH THIS RUST ISSUE IT IS UN SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10783731

Incident

Oct 20, 2015

I HAVE A 2004 PACIFICA TOURING EDITION...PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL, HUB, SWAY BAR ROTTED OUT. WENT TO PICK UP PARTS AND EVERY CAR I CAME ACROSS HAD THE SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME PLACE. HOW CAN FIVE DIFFERENT CARS DRIVEN BY FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.....TWO WORDS...CRAPPY MATERIALS. CHRYSLER SHOULD PROCEED WITH A RECALL ON THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FOR THESE VEHICLES, THEY ARE ROLLING DEATH TRAPS.

NHTSA ID

10783243

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

173,000 mi

AFTER TAKING MY PACIFICA IN FOR SERVICE I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MECHANIC THAT MY ENGINE CRADLE HAS LARGE RUST HOLES IN IT. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AT CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT YES THEY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS RUSTING CRADLE BUT ONLY A VERY NARROW RANGE OF VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. AND MY MFR DATE FELL OUTSIDE THAT DATE RANGE. HOW CAN I HAVE THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THEY ADMIT TO BUT REFUSE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY CREATED AN ARBITRARY DATE RANGE. I ALSO CANNOT BELIEVE THAT SO MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED AND WE ARE BEING IGNORED ! NBC NEWS IN CHICAGO DID AN INVESTIGATIVE PIECE ON THIS ISSUE IN 2014 AND IT IS STILL A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. I REFUSE TO SCRAP MY MINT CONDITION PACIFICA ! I HAD HEARD OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN OHIO AND WILL LOOK INTO THAT.

NHTSA ID

10778392

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

92,000 mi

WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION SAYS VAPOR LEAK, HAS REPLACED GAS CAP TWICE, NOT ABLE TO FIND LEAK. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS REALLY HARD , BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT

NHTSA ID

10764898

Incident

Aug 25, 2015

Mileage

156 mi

UPON TAKING MY VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED AFTER PURCHASE 1 DAY AGO, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS IS THE ONLY RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE, BUT HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10764549

Incident

Sep 17, 2015

Mileage

121,000 mi